Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 186
By the Committee on Health Policy; and Senator Garcia
588-02793A-26 2026186c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student health and safety; amending
3 s. 385.207, F.S.; revising Department of Health
4 responsibilities for educational programs concerning
5 epilepsy; amending s. 1006.0626, F.S.; revising the
6 definition of the term “school”; revising requirements
7 for a student’s individualized seizure action plan;
8 revising the list of which employees must complete
9 training in the care of students with epilepsy and
10 seizure disorders; providing that the training is
11 valid for 5 years; requiring schools to display a
12 specified poster; requiring the Department of
13 Education to identify for a specified purpose posters
14 that meet certain requirements; providing an effective
15 date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
20 385.207, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
21 385.207 Care and assistance of persons with epilepsy;
22 establishment of programs in epilepsy control.—
23 (2) The Department of Health shall:
24 (e) Institute and maintain an educational program among
25 physicians, hospitals, county health departments, and the public
26 concerning epilepsy, including the dissemination of information
27 and the conducting of educational programs concerning the
28 prevention of epilepsy and methods developed and used for the
29 care and treatment of persons with epilepsy. The educational
30 program must include the education and training requirements of
31 s. 1006.0626(3) and (5).
32 Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1), paragraph (b)
33 of subsection (2), and paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of
34 section 1006.0626, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection
35 (5) is added to that section, to read:
36 1006.0626 Care of students with epilepsy or seizure
37 disorders.—
38 (1) As used in this section, the term:
39 (c) “School” has the same meaning as in s. 1003.01(17) and
40 includes charter schools under s. 1002.33.
41 (2)
42 (b) An ISAP must be developed and signed by a medical
43 professional, in consultation with the student’s parent, and
44 include the following:
45 1. Written orders from the student’s medical professional,
46 in a form determined by the medical professional, outlining the
47 student’s epilepsy or seizure disorder recommended care.
48 2. The parent’s signature.
49 3. The student’s epilepsy or seizure disorder symptoms.
50 4. Any accommodations the student requires for school
51 trips, after-school programs and activities, class parties, and
52 any other school-related activities.
53 5. When and whom to call for medical assistance.
54 6. The student’s ability to manage, and the student’s level
55 of understanding of, his or her epilepsy or seizure disorder.
56 7. How to maintain communication with the student; the
57 student’s parent; and the student’s health care team, school
58 nurse, and educational staff.
59 8. Any rescue medication prescribed by the student’s
60 medical professional and how and when to administer the
61 medication.
62 (3) The school nurse or an appropriate school employee of a
63 school that receives an ISAP pursuant to subsection (2) shall:
64 (b) Verify that each school district or charter school
65 employee whose duties include regular contact with the student,
66 including any employee who teaches or transports the student to
67 and from school or school activities, has completed training in
68 the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders. The
69 training must include how to recognize the symptoms of and
70 provide care for epilepsy and seizure disorders. To assist
71 schools in meeting this requirement, the Department of Education
72 shall identify on its website one or more online training
73 courses that are provided by a nonprofit national organization
74 that supports the welfare of individuals with epilepsy and
75 seizure disorders and are available free of charge to schools.
76 The completion of training is valid for 5 years.
77 (5) Each school as defined in paragraph (1)(c) shall
78 display a poster developed by the department which describes the
79 basic steps of responding to an individual having a seizure. The
80 department shall identify one or more posters that are provided
81 by a national nonprofit organization that supports the welfare
82 of individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders and are
83 available free of charge to schools.
84 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.